Bunjil Rocks BioBlitz – A weekend of flora, fauna and fun!

The weather may have been wet and windy, but that didn't stop everyone having fun and learning more about the...
Home 🞂 Newsroom 🞂 Bunjil Rocks BioBlitz – A weekend of flora, fauna and fun!
The weather may have been wet and windy, but that didn’t stop everyone having fun and learning more about the rich biodiversity and conservation value of Bunjil Rocks during last weekend’s BioBlitz.

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][sc_textbox content_background_color=”#003b5c” content_text_color=”#ffffff”][vc_column_text]

 

What is a BioBlitz? A BioBlitz is a 24-hour event involving rapid collection of data about the biological diversity of a particular site; enabling scientists and other experts to identify as many plant and animal species as can be found in this limited time frame.

 

[/vc_column_text][/sc_textbox][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]

Over the long weekend, the Northern Agricultural Catchments Council (NACC) joined up with partners Yarra Yarra Catchment Management Group (YYCMG) and Moore Catchment Council (MCC) to host the inaugural Midwest BioBlitz at Bunjil Rocks

More than 60 professional biologists and capable amateurs attended the event with people travelling from Geraldton, Northampton, Perth, Northam and Dowerin.

After an introduction from organisers Jessica Stingemore, Lizzie King and Rachel Walmsley, the BioBlitz was kicked off by local Badimaya man Ashley Bell who, accompanied by his nephew Angus on didgeridoo, performed a fitting Welcome to Country – encouraging everyone to explore the local area, while also caring for the Country that has provided us with so much.

MCC’s Community Landcare Coordinator Rachel Walmsley said participants were then split into groups with an ‘eco-guru’ team leader and spent the afternoon exploring and surveying the bush.

“Gurus on-hand were Midwest flora expert Jenny Borger, bird enthusiast Phil Lewis, local landcare lover Paulina Wittwer, bat crazy and nest cam specialist Joe Tonga and all-round eco guru and fauna trapping expert Nic Dunlop,” she said.

Team leaders exploring flora on the granite outcrops only had to walkabout 50 metres before being able to identify over 120 species of plants, indicating the incredible diversity found on granite outcrops. Other highlights included the young (and young at heart) BioBlitzers catching tadpoles in the water holes, spotting a Barn Owl accidently flushed from its day roosts, spying a Western Spiny-tailed Skink having a doze in a fallen tree trunk and trapping (and releasing) not one, not two, but 10 birds in the mist nests.

What else did we see: Gunther’s Toadlet, Rainbow Darkling Beetle, Tiger Centipede, Mulga Parrot, White-browed Babbler, Red-capped Robin, Western Yellow Robin, Nightjar, Gwarder, Little Eagle, Bobtail Lizard, Mulga Ant, Malleefowl mound, Wreath Flower, Fringe Lily and many more!

After the pack up and yet another delicious meal it was time to sadly say goodbye to friends both old and new. With talk of a 2018 Midwest BioBlitz in the works, we hope to see everyone all again soon.

NACC’s Biodiversity Coordinator Jessica Stingemore said the BioBlitz was a fantastic way to connect people with nature, and also a brilliant way to showcase the region and the local community.

“One of my highlights from the event was increasing the local and broader community’s interest in and awareness of the area’s biological richness, while enhancing the community’s skills and capacity for engaging in biodiversity conservation activities.”

Some participants asked why Bunjil Rocks? The site features a number of large granite outcrops surrounded by native bushland – all protected as a nature reserve. The granite outcrops contain several natural water holes and pools which retain water for much of the year. In spring, the surrounding bushland comes alive with wildflowers – including a number of spectacular orchid species. As a result of this BioBlitz, NACC will provide the Shire of Perenjori (and local community) with a report summarising results from the survey, including prioritised management recommendations for the community to consider. In addition, the nearby town of Latham has outstanding facilitates that provided a great headquarters for the event (including hot showers).

This event was proudly supported by National Landcare Programme, Gunduwa Regional Conservation Association, Shire of Perenjori, Conservation Council WA, Moora Citrus, Westways Wildflowers, Kochii Oil, Moore Park Olive Oil, Manavi Eggs, Spineless Wonder, Scinapse and Earth Stewardship.

* We are currently collating the species list and photos, so stayed tuned to NACC Notes for more information and event highlights.

 

Share

We'd Love to Hear From You!

Your feedback is important to us. If you have suggestions, questions, or would like to get involved in Natural Resource Management, please use the form below or contact our Geraldton office. We’re here to listen and help

Contact Us

Geraldton Office

4 Walton Close, Geraldton
Post: PO Box 7168, Geraldton, 6531
Phone: (08) 9938 0100
Office hours: 8:30am to 4:30pm

Forms

Expression of Interest Form 🞂

Suggest a Project Form 🞂

Membership Form 🞂

Donations Form 🞂

Contacts

NACC Board Members 🞂

NACC Staff 🞂

NRM Bodies & Groups 🞂

CEO’s Report

In 2020-21 I talked about ‘raising the bar’. In 2021-22 we worked on setting the bar on fire. Over the last 12 months, the team at NACC NRM has not stopped.

The Sustainable Agriculture team has extended the program’s reach through collaborations with grower groups in the regions. Specifically, the Beyond Reasonable Drought project and Grower Group Alliance – South West WA Drought Innovation Hub – Geraldton Node project. The Beyond Reasonable Drought partnership with grower groups supported farmers across the region to improve the environmental sustainability of their agricultural production and drought resilience. The outcomes of this project have been consolidated through our successful Expression of Interest to the South West WA Drought Innovation Hub, with support from grower groups across the region, to host the Geraldton Node of the Hub. The program continues to focus on working with agricultural networks to share technical expertise and provide opportunities that will improve land management practices in agriculture across the region.

The conservation outcomes of ranger teams have expanded through work on several land tenures. Maintaining Heritage sites such as Willi Gulli, Racecourse Paddock and Buller River has long been a priority. During 2021-22, the teams have increasingly focused on threatened species and ecosystems.

To this end, Western Mulga rangers have improved management across 19,000 ha for the conservation of Malleefowl through firebreak and access management. They completed the maintenance of water holes and supported the monitoring of over 90 Malleefowl mounds.

Similarly, the Kwelena Mambakort Aboriginal Corporate ranger team have contributed positively to Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo populations by installing artificial hollows and habitat restoration.

All ranger teams have collected native seed, propagated native plants for restoration, and planted native vegetation in key locations across the NAR. Seed collection provides valuable industry experience and has facilitated the planting of over 100,000 seedlings during the year.   

In September 2021, the NACC NRM team delivered the WA Threatened Species Forum, held in tandem with the National Malleefowl Forum. Given the impact of COVID and the timing of this event, having more than 100 delegates from all over Australia was a significant achievement. The two Forums brought together 12 events over five days and featured 14 local artists, 25 businesses and 36 youth participants.

Following the successful relaunch of our updated NARvis, NACC NRM was invited to help lead a significant piece of strategic planning work for the region with Mid West Development Commission and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. With funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, the consortia delivered a Regional Drought Resilience Plan covering the shires of Northampton and Chapman Valley and the City of Greater Geraldton, along with significant technical analysis of drought vulnerability for the South West land division. The development of this plan also included extensive community consultation to ensure that local knowledge and technical advice guided the development of priorities for action.

This planning work links to existing NACC NRM on-ground projects, including Beyond Reasonable Drought and the Chapman Catchment Collaborative regeneration project.

It was a busy year for events with face-to-face events becoming commonplace again. During 2021-22 we hosted events in Gingin, Moora, Dalwallinu, Cervantes, Jurien Bay, Walkaway, Nabawa, Perenjori, Kalannie and Morawa. We supported events in Karakin, Thundellara, Perenjori, Paynes Find, Wubin, Cataby, Warradarge, Northampton, Yuna, Dalwallinu and Dandaragan.

We also supported on-ground works throughout the region, including at the following locations Yuna, Dalwallinu, Dandaragan, Merkanooka, Goodlands, Kalannie, Bunjil, Yardarino, Canna, Kondut, Latham, Kadathinni, Nabawa, Red Gully, Sandy Gully, Waddy Forrest, Devils Creek, Perenjori, Bowgada, Ellendale, Wandana, Namban, Hill River, Warradarge, Gillingarra, Regans Ford and Moonyanooka.

Our region is vast – slightly larger than Tasmania, which for comparison, is serviced by three separate NRM organisations. Covering the NAR region and its many environmental threats is challenging. We continue to focus on partnerships and collaboration to address this challenge. We know that by working with our community through passionate delivery of collaborative on-ground projects and education, the community will value and actively protect our region’s natural capital.

This year we have launched a new Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). The RAP Working Group consulted widely and developed an Innovate RAP which Reconciliation Australia approved in March 2022. The activities to fulfil these commitments are now in full swing.

Sadly, at the end of 2021, we farewelled former NACC NRM CEO Shelley Spriggs, who lost a long battle with cancer. Shelley was an inaugural inductee to the NRM Leadership Honour Roll. I will always be grateful for her guidance and no-nonsense approach, not to mention her passion for life.

While we have said farewell to some, we have welcomed many new faces across all programs, including our Administration team. We have also hosted a school-based trainee from Nagle Catholic College who has been working towards a Certificate II in Conservation and Ecosystem Management. This trial position has been very successful, and we look forward to making this opportunity available again in 2023.

During 2022 we have taken on new projects that align with our organisational and program objectives, and we have successfully completed some great initiatives that support continued conservation and sustainability outcomes. I want to thank the whole team who continue to go above and beyond for the organisation and each other proving their ongoing commitment to our purpose and our values.